I rarely link to posts on message boards. Mostly because I don’t read them that often, and the content often sucks. Jonesman at Irishenvy.com came up with a great recruiting summary though, right after Pollard switched his allegiance back to UCLA. (booooo). Anyway, it’s a solid effort, so I’m linking to it here, and posting below with a few minor edits to reduce the length. I’m not putting it in block quotes simply because it’d be harder to read, but yes it’s pretty much a cut-and-paste job. I’ve had similar thoughts and he’s already done the work so why re-invent the wheel?
My thoughts in general: ND recruiting remains very solid. After 2 Top 10 years this year’s class will be somewhere between 11 and 20, but it will fill most of our big needs. The areas where I feel we’re missing are the DL (DE, DT and NT, and maybe the OLB/DE hybrid type), and Safety. Other than that, we’re really locked up this year. Of COURSE I’d ABSOLUTELY LOVE to get some top talent in a few other positions – LBs in Jenkins and Teo, Gaffney at FB, etc. And while those guys are strong, strong talents that can be game-changers, these aren’t clear needs from a roster/talent perspective. I always want those guys with us, and I’m praying we get 1-2 more big time guys in. But if not, I think we just need to crush on the DL in 2010, and continue our success in other areas. From all the reports, CW’s staff got out really early on the 2010 guys, made a lot of progress, then sorta slowed up. But once we lock in this class in early Feb, I expect another all-out push for the 2010 guys to materialize.
Anyway, without further ado, Jonesman speaks. Read his sage words:
“Over the last few days we have seen many folks here freak out because we lost a recruit who went back to his original choice. Further, because we have less than 20 recruits and our ranking is out of the Top 10, some folks are on the cliff ready to jump. [However, ] the world is not crumbling around us.
First, just the facts. CW has brought in three Top 10 recruiting classes. He has loaded the skill positions with 5* talent. He is courting the best LB in the country in Manti Teo who has us in his top 3. Analysts are already stating that ND is in the drivers seat for a Top 5 class in 2010.
Second, how do we stand at each position?? Let’s look.
QB>>>>> We have Clausen with 2 years and Crist with 4 years of eligibility. We have a Montana as a back-up. So, would any real talent want to come in and sit for 4 years, NOT. We already have several in our sights for next season which is realistic.
2009 verdict – No commits, no problem.
RB>>>>> We have a stable of 4 studs. We have two serious talents coming.
2009 verdict – full house, sweet.
FB>>>> We have Schwaap for one more season and Paskorz for 3 years. Need is one every other year. Gaffney is still in play.
2009 verdict – Nice if we get Gaffney, but not critical
TE>>>> We have two studs in Ragone and Rudolph along with another potential in Fauria. They all have 3 years. We got 2 guys this year who are mid tear guys with good upside.
2009 verdict – Two guys, upside talent.
WR>>>> The talent pool is spilling over. Floyd, Tate, Kamara all have 2-3 years. Walker and Goodman 4 years and skills. Shaq is great get considering the full depth. Nobody else was going to come aboard.
2009 verdict – perfection
OT>>>> Duncan and Young with 1 year left. Dever, Romine, Clelland with 3-4 years and solid talent. We got Martin who is solid tackle.
2009 verdict – good would have liked one more.
OG>>>> We have Olsen for 1 more year. Stewart has 2 years. Nuss and Robinson 3 years. Bullard and Watt are committed. Talent and depth are there.
2009 verdict – perfection
OC>>>>> Wenger has 2 years, Bemenderfer 1. Cave and Golic still have 4 years. No need currently. No offers
2009 verdict – none as expected
NT>>>> We have Ian Williams for 2 more years. Newman for 4 years. We needed one here, got none.
2009 verdict – dissapointing
DT>>>> Hafis, Nwanko and Cwynar for 4 years. We need two studs here. We got one in Stockton.
2009 verdict – one stud, needed two
DE>>>> KLM and Ethan Johnson have 3-4 years. Johnson is AA in the making. Need two. Fox is listed at LB, but will most likely become a DE/OLB highbreed like Neal and Fleming. We are still in the mix for Custis and now Buchanon. If we close on one of those, we will DE need.
2009 verdict – half way there, either Custis or Buchanon means perfection.
ILB>>> Smith, Smith and Smith return for next season. Brian has 2 years left. McDonald, Filer and Poz will be here for 3-4 years. We would llike to have 2 but need one for sure. Carlo is committed and Manti is a possible.
2009 verdict – looking good, could be AWESOME
OLB>>>>Fleming and Neal have 2-3 years left. Filer could move OLB, so could Brian. Need 1, with 2 being perfect.
2009 verdict – Motta is perfect fit, would like 1 more.
S>>>> McCarthy and Brown have 1 more season. Smith has 3 years. Dan McCarthy has 4 years. Gaines could return and give more depth for 2 years. Would like to have two, need 1.
2009 verdict – big miss so far, Moore could change it all. Late charge at Starling possible.
CB>>>> Walls and McNeil for 1 more year. Blanton and Gray for 3 years. Slaughter for 4 years. The need is for one for sure. Two would be good in case, Walls leaves after 09 and Gray does not return.
verdict – Banks and Nyshiere fit the bill, solid.
Kicker>>>> Walker has turned the corner. He has 2 years left. Taush and Turk fill the class.
verdict – full house
2009 Cupboard Results after this class arrives:
Full Cupboards – Lots of meat and potatoes. Extra helpings and some desert. Replenish as needed.
QB, RB, WR, TE, K/P, OL
Solid Cupboard with lean stock. These cupboards are great for 2009, but not beyond. Restocking needed.
CB, Safety, ILB, OLB
Ole Mother Hubbard Cupboard. These only contain a couple good meats at each position. Need grocery cart full of goods.
DT, DE
Final thoughts, CW is doing pretty darn good job again in 2009. Furher, he does not want to fill to many spots which could take away from 2010 class which has much more talent as stated by almost evey recruiting service.”
Hat Tip to you Jonesman. Hat Tip to you.
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